It's exhausting! My brain hates me and I'm probably getting early onset arthritis in my thumbs and index fingers between all the snapping, swiping and typing I'm doing. I get so tired of 'responding' to technology - so many text messages, comments, and emails to reply to, so many calendars and boards to update. I think some people are getting frustrated with me because I've just given up and ignore my phone and don't respond!
Anyway, about two weeks ago my bestie Meghan, who is living in Florida instead of here with me bless her heart, and I were talking about how much we love 'stuff.' We even wrote a little dialogue and were going to co-blog about it but that sort of fell through...Because I was busy updating my Pinterest. Seriously, though. It's important to keep your 'Words of Awesome' board updated in case you need that perfect inspirational quote and the only thing around to help you is your best firend, Wi-Fi.
Hannah: We. Love. Stuff. WE LOVE IT. Like, a lot. New things, old things, free things, expensive things - we love ALL THE THINGS. But what we’ve started to notice is the more ‘stuff’ you have, the more your stuff can start to own you. Meaning it takes up more of your time than you have to spend on it! So for the next week we are going to look at all the ‘stuff’ that is basically a filler in our lives. We aren’t going to try and cut out our normal habits or reduce or anything, just take notes, take a step back in a week, and see what it looks like.
Here’s the areas we are going to focus on:
Meghan: Phone - Ah, the phone, where to even begin. I use it to fill any and all “lull” moments in my life. Oh, you’re waiting for a friend? Phone. At lunch and aren’t feeling social? Phone. Bored? Phone. I use my phone more than any other electronic device. Pinterest, Imgur, Netflix, so many things to entertain me for hours. But to what end? I’ve pinned the best wedding in the world but I get so wrapped up in “pinning” ideas I don’t bother to go out and actually meet people.
Aaaaaaand that's as far as we got. But it has really made me think about the 'stuff' I use to fill my life and technology is right at the top. It's not even material stuff, really! It's stuff that literally only exists online! Think about your life - think about that! Talk about time wasting! I'm now appalled that I'm even using this computer for blogging instead of talking to someone in the real world! Just kidding, but kind of seriously.
Activity doesn't necessarily equal productivity, and I think I get so wrapped up thinking I need to 'communicate' using all these little apps and accounts that I forget that what I'm so busy 'communicating' doesn't really matter. Not in the scheme of things.
I want to de-clutter my life. I want it to be 'de-stuffed.' I'm looking at all the 'stuff' that I use all day and most of it is just me interacting with an object (often a screen). How sad and pointless is that? But I would rather recognize that now so I can work on changing it.
So. What's your 'stuff?' Are you in a more complex relationship with your facebook than you are with your real friends, your spouse, your family?
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